Wenger: I’ll alter tactics to salvage our season
ARSENE WENGER last night issued a rallying cry to his beleaguered players, calling on them to save Arsenal’s season. The under-fire manager is ready to ditch his attacking principles in an effort to reinvigorate his side’s crumbling campaign. The Gunners have lost four games in a row, a sequence that has left Wenger in a huge fight to keep his job beyond the end of the season. Laurent Koscielny said the team were in the midst of a ‘negative spiral’ as he took his place alongside his troubled manager at the San Siro last night, before tonight’s Europa League last-16 first-leg clash against AC Milan. Success in the Europa League will have a huge bearing on whether Wenger is forced leave a club he has served for more than 21 years, particularly given the winners are granted entry into next season’s Champions League. Wenger has likened the Europa League campaign to last season’s FA Cup triumph. Arsenal’s victory over Chelsea at Wembley last May was the trigger for the club extending Wenger’s stay, with the Frenchman penning a new two-year deal. Having missed out on a top-four place last season, winning the FA Cup provided a triumphant end to an otherwise disappointing campaign. Yet again, Arsenal are almost certain to miss out on Champions League qualification through their league position and Wenger knows his future may rest on winning the Europa League. ‘It makes me think a little bit about last year. Last year with the FA Cup, we made 75 points in the league and missed the Champions League by one point only,’ said Wenger. ‘Seventy-five points is still a very good score that we will not reach this season. This (the Europa League) is an opportunity we have to take. It increases the pressure even more on this competition. It is difficult when you go through a patch like we are but I believe it is a good opportunity to show you have the quality and strength. ‘You can only show that when it is difficult. It is a good opportunity to show we can deal with that and as well, in the longer term, it will make the team even stronger.’ Wenger said he is prepared to turn his back on his attacking instincts in an effort to spark a reaction from his team. ‘In life, you forget quickly how good you are,’ said Wenger, who also revealed right back Hector Bellerin has been sent for a scan on a inflamed left knee. ‘When you have a bad week, players change their mind about their own quality. We have not to forget we are good football players. But as well to fix reachable targets. ‘Be practical, pragmatic — focus on what you can do better and analyse what you didn’t do well and not be scared too much about the consequences of a bad result. Focus on defending better, playing quicker and doing more things together. Reachable targets to improve the team.’ On Arsenal’s recent problems, Koscielny said: ‘We need to be together. That’s most important. It doesn’t matter what’s going on outside. We’re in a negative spiral and it’s difficult to go out of this. We need to have positive advice in our heads because the brain dictates the body and the legs.’